What Was Your Reaction to Your Child's Diagnosis?

2 Comments: What Was Your Reaction to Your Child's Diagnosis?

1. When my was first diagnosed with ADHD I felt relieved, sadness and guilt. I was relieved because her dad and I suspected it. I was saddened by the diagnosis because I wasn’t sure how she would handle school (she’s in kindergarten). She’s doing great. She’s 5 and doing 3rd and 4th grade work. I felt guilty because I thought that I’ve done something wrong when I was pregnant. After doing research, I found out that I didn’t do anything wrong. We’re doing everything to help her succeed in school.

2. Part of my reaction when my now 13 year old daughter was diagnosed at 7 was guilt, but also relief and frustration. Relief that I knew what was going on, but frustration with her 2nd grade teacher at the Catholic school she was attending at the time for even suggesting retention and more at the school district that wasn’t providing support because they considered themselves separated from the Catholic school though they were part of the same district. Because it was such a tiny, private school, they didn’t have funding to help kids with learning disabilities of any sort or kids with any kind of special educational need so they suggested that if I didn’t wish to retain my daughter in second grade, she should go to a public school for 3rd grade. It was a very difficult decision since the parents and staff were like a little family. I chose public school. My daughter had an awful time in third and fourth grade because of the teacher. She did great with the private – public school transition and remained in that elementary school until she graduated the sixth grade last June. This year she began middle school as a seventh grader at the middle/high school. Middle school for our district is 7th and 8th grade. She has wonderful teachers!!!